Amusement game apparatus

ABSTRACT

In simulated amusement game apparatus, e.g. a football game, a manual control module having three degrees of motion is selectively operative by mechanical or electrical means to actuate a pulley cord system to cause a manikin playing piece to travel in different directions and at different speeds over a playing field composed of guide tracks having an especial crosssectional structure, the said module also being operative to cause the playing piece to move in situ to strike a ball or the like independently of the travelling movements thereof. Supplements to the subject: manikin figures are carried by a novel shuttle structure including a slide reciprocable to rotate a cam table, the slide being actuated by causing an effective elongation of the drive cable which travels the shuttle, such elongation being wholly independent of any travel motion of the shuttle and any power means utilized in connection therewith.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Leonard l. Vedeen p; Joseph E. Lally, McHenry; Herman L. Seiden, deceased, late of Sltokie, 11]., by F i lk t fisn 211 App]. No. 693,355 [22] Filed Dec. 22, 1967 [45] Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee Bally Manufacturing Corporation a corporation of [54] AMUSEMENT GAME APPARATUS 19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. 52 van 273/85 [51] Int. Cl A63! 7/06 [501' Fieldof Search 273/85, 94(for) [56] References Cited FORElGN PATENTS 1,507,146 12/1967 France 273/85 1966 Great Britain Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro wwzxr a sf W a ABSTRACT: In simulated amusement game apparatus, e.g. a

football game, a manual control module having three degrees of motion is selectively operative by mechanical or electrical means to actuate a pulley cord system to cause a manikinplaying piece to travel in difi'erent directions and at different speeds over a playing field composed of guide tracks having an especial cross-sectional structure, the said module also being PATENTED JAN] 2 I87! SHEET 1 BF 7 PATENTEU JAN 2197] SHEET 3 [IF 7 PATENTIED JAN 2 um may [1F 7 PATENTEDJAMIQYI SHEET 7 0F 7 AMUSEMENT GAME APPARATUS This invention relates to amusement apparatus of the known type which includes simulated competitive action games such as football, soccer and the like, wherein manikins or other playing figures are caused to move back and forth over a playing field to advance a ball or like playing piece toward goals and other scoring objectives.

A Summary of Operation is included in this specification.

PRIOR ART Amusement apparatus embodying cable-travelled carriage means and playing figures of various types are known in the art, one example having ball-kicking manikins being found in British Pat. No. 1,051,371 (1966) to Cane and its counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,316.

In the patents to Cane a manikin figure is pivoted through a reverse-acting lost-motion connection between a towing cable and the manikin pivot, which upon turning engages one or the other of a pair of spaced stopping elements whereupon the pull then acts upon the carriage. Such an arrangement is characterized in that the manikin figure can be pivoted only as an incident to a reversal of the direction of carriage travel.

In accordance with the presently disclosed improvements, control means cooperable with the pulley system actuate the manikin or other device on the carriage in a manner wholly independent of the driving means, motion, or direction of motion of the carriage.

The present disclosures provide improvement in structures for supporting and driving the playing figures, and novel modular-type mechanisms for both effecting and'controlling certain movements thereof. I

In the form illustrated, the improvements are utilized in a simulated soccer game suitable for coin-controlled operation by two persons respectively manipulating separate sets of control handles to actuate individual playing figures simulating opposing teams," with the object of propelling or kicking" a free-rolling ball toward opposite goals to actuate corresponding score control means.

Among some of the more detailed-features of novelty and utility characterizing the improvements are the provision of: Track members of special configuration defining a playing field'for guiding a ball and supporting manikin shuttles for guided movement; an adjustable shuttle pulley system including a pulley cord for travelling the shuttle and means for instantly elongating" the cord to impart an additional operating motion to a manikin or other playing figure on the shuttle without dependence upon or interference with the travelling motion of the shuttle; means for effecting faster travel of the manikin shuttle in one direction than another; means for causing the manikin figure'to pivot abruptly on the shuttle with adjustable force in response to an efiective" elongation of the travelling cord or cable; spring-loaded releasable stop means at the ends of the tracks for stopping the shuttles thereat and permitting their removal from or installation upon the track means; individual control modules of compact subassembly character operable reversely in one mode to effect opposite travel of the manikin shuttles, and in another mode to effect pivoting of the manikin upon its shuttle; and a chassis structure comprising separable subassemblies of the control modules and their driving countershaft systems for the shuttles.

Additional aspects of novelty and utility will appear in the detailed description hereafter set forth.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described more particularly hereinafter in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a partial perspective view of a form of the amusement apparatus enclosed in a cabinet for coin-controlled operation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail of parts of the playfield track structure;

FIG. 2A is an endwise elevational detail of one of the guidetrack sections;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the manikin carriage or shuttle;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shuttle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of the manikin shuttle taken along linesS-S of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of the manikin carriage structure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail taken longitudinally through one of the track sections, looking in the direction of lines 7-7 of FIG. 2; 7

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective .views of the manikin and carriage structures in changed operative positions;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, to enlarged scale, of part of one of the control consoles and appertaining goalie mechanism;

FIG. 11 s an enlargedsectional detail, with parts shown in elevation, of the goalie structure;

FIG; 12 is an exploded perspective of parts of one of the control modules;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevational detail of a control module in assembled condition;

FIG. 14 is a partial side elevation of the control module of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the complete control module in operative position relative to the driving countershafts, as viewed from the side opposite that of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of one of the idler pulley assemblies;

FIG. 16A is a sectional detail of the manikin control cable adjustment shackle on the idler pulley means as seen along lines I6A-I6A of FIG. I6;

FIG. 17 is a partial plan view of theunderside of one of the control consoles, parts of the module control handles being shown in section;

FIG. 17A is a fragmentary sectional detail taken through the console along lines l7A-I7A of FIG. 17;

FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus chassis structure;

. FIG. 19 is a side elevation of the chassis structure;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational detail of one of the chassis bearing and tie plates and its set of modules constituting one of the chassis subassemblies;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the countershaft gears as seen along lines 21-21 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a schematic functional diagram illustrative of the operation of the type of apparatus in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-18;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a modified control module and manikin actuating means.

FIG. 1 of the draim'ngs depicts a form of the game intended for coin-controlled operation wherein the apparatus is housed in a table-type cabinet 20 having a hinged glass top section 21 flanked at opposite ends by control consoles or panels 22 each equipped with a set of player control levers 23 and a goalie control knob 26. Y

Beneath the glass top is a playfield formed of a set of parallel trackways 40 respectivelyv separated by narrow grooves 4t through which shuttle pins 27 (FIG. 2 also) project to support corresponding manikin figures 30, of which there may be one set'(for example eight field players) corresponding to each of the opposite console sets of control levers 23, and respectively representing opposing teams.

The simulated soccer field, as seen in FIG. 1, is completed by the provision at opposite ends thereof of respective goal wickets or cages 32 in the bottoms of which are respective ball exits 33 (FIG. 10 also) through which a scoring ball descends into a return chute and runway means to actuate a score control switch or the like, in accordance with the operations described hereafter.

As depicted to enlarged scale in FIGS. 2, 2A, the individual tracks 40 which comprise the playfield are of a novel configuration, formed preferably of drawn aluminum to provide an elongated central depending web 42 surmounted by a transverse top web 43 made arcuate on its upper surface to define a shallow trough for guiding the travel of the ball B in a direction generally lengthwise of the field. Beneath the top web is an intermediate track web extending crosswise on either side of the vertical web to define carrier tracks 44 respectively adapted to fit into slide track grooves 53 in the manikin carriers or shuttles 50 (see also FIGS. 5 and 6).

At the bottom of the central web each track is provided with a partially closed mounting channel 45 into which the squared keying heads 46 of mounting bolts are slidably captured and adjustably positioned for ready assembly of the tracks upon channel-shaped crossbearers 121, 122 forming part of a main chassis frame 119 (FIGS. 7, l8).

- The carriages or shuttles which carry the manikins have the having a horizontal floor portion 51 flanked on opposite sides I by upstanding sidewalls 52 in each of which is an outwardlyopening track groove 53 and an inwardly opening slide groove 54. The sidewalls 52 each further include an intermediate arcuate relief affording a circularseat 55 into which is fitted a circular cam plate 56 having a'radial camming slot 57 and a central hole 58.

Slideably received in the inner set of carrier grooves is an elongated slide plate 59 having a central longitudinally-extensive clearance slot 60 and an offset upstanding cam pin 61 receivable in the cam-plate slot 57 in the assembled condition of the parts shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10, such that when the slide plate is reciprocated, the cam pin oscillates'accordingly and turns the cam plate 56 one way or the other. Springs 62 each anchored at one end on respective tongues 63 on the carrier and at their opposite ends on tongues 64 on the slide (FIG.

4) retract the slide to a normal position. Cable.65 engages carrier tongue 63A and slide hook 59A.

Each playing figure or manikin element (excepting the two goalie figures) has its depending supporting pin 27 press-fitted into the central hole 58 in the corresponding cam plate, to extend thence downwardly through the long slide slot 60 for additional stability into a seating pivot hole 58A in the floor of the appertaining carrier (FIGS. 4, 5, 6) in consequence of which the turning of the cam plate by its slide plate 59 will cause the manikin to turn abruptly by reason of fast leverage ratios afforded between the cam slot and cam pin.

Each of those manikin figures which is intended to represent a field player has one foot portion 31 elevated and offset to project laterally so as to lie about in the middle of the trough portion of an adjacent track section when the figure is facing fully forward, as illustrated by the postures seen in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9; such that when theslide plate of the corresponding shuttle is pulled from its normal position (FIG. 8), into the operated condition of FIG. 9, the corresponding cam plate and its figure 30 will swing energetically to cause the players kicking" foot portion 31 to strike a ball B lodged in said trough portion, and thereby impart a blow tending to drive the ball generally forward in a more or less straight path along the playfield subject to possible interference from opposing player figures and other variables arising from the manner in which the ball may be disposed or moving at the time it is struck, etc., and which might cause the ball to move off in some other direction. In some actions, the manikin may simply push the ball ahead as it advances down the field.

The carrier bodies 50 are entered upon (or removed from) their tracks 44 by sliding them endwise, as in FIG. 2, in between appropriate pairs of track sections, after lowering the gate 47 from the normally raised blocking position into which it is urged by spring means 47S. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the gates are angular in cross section and have pivot fingers 48 in slots 121x formed in a side of the adjacent tracksupporting cross channels 121 (FIGS. 7 and 20 also). Resilient strips 49 (FIG. 7) are affixed to the inner sides of these bars to buffer the impact of the carriages on reaching the end of the course.

In addition to the so-called field players, each team has a .goal defender or "goalie 36 guarding the ball exits 33 in a wicket 32 at the respectively corresponding ends of the field friction drive wheel 72, rotatably carriedona spindle pin 73 at one end of the arm, there being a bushing collar 74 affixed to the opposite end of said arm and from which projects a rigid upwardly-extending actuating rod 75.

The second module lever is a U-shaped yoke lever having opposite yoke legs 81A, 81B joined by a bight portion 82 in which is a hole 83 through which said actuating rod 75 passes upwardly for ultimate assembly with a-corresponding one of the handles 23, as in FIG. 13. In each leg of the'yoke is an elongated yoke slot 84 open at its lower end to fit shiftably onto an assembly sleeve bushing 85, which in turn will be carried on a common rocker shaft on which all of the modules in each corresponding control set will be arranged, as will appear more fully hereafter.

The third lever element in the module subassembly is a trigger lever having lower body portions offset in a U- shaped configuration to form a pair of trunnion arms 91, 92, in which are aligned rocker shaft holes 93 fitting onto the bushing 85 in such manner that this trigger lever can be rocked back and forth on the bushing independently of the rocking motion of the entire module on the common rocker shaft.

The fourth and last lever in the module is a toggle crank 100 having a mounting hole 101 fitting onto the sleeve bushing 85, and a pair of angularly offset pins 102,103, both situated radially of the center of the hole and bushing, the pin 102 being a stud spindle adapted to fit into a plastic insert bearing 104 disposed in an elongated hole 105 in one of the yoke arms (FIG. 14 also), such that the crank can be rocked as a result of the up and down shifting of the yoke lever 80, as will more fully appear hereafter.

The four module levers are joined in a cooperative subassembly upon thegbushing 85, upon which they are captured by means of spring retaining washers I06, and the resulting unit is provided with a normalizing traction spring 94, FIG. 14, one .endof which is anchored upon the protruding end of the toggle lever pin 102, and the other end of which is attached to a pin on the trip lever, with the result that the trip lever is thereby pulled clockwise into its normal position, shown in full lines in FIGS. 14 and 15, the same spring effort also pivoting the toggle lever (counterclockwise) into its normal position seen in full lines in FIG. 14. The trigger lever, FIG. 12, is provided with an interlock notch 88 which engages a nylon roller 89 carried on a cross pin between the yoke arms 81A, 81B, whereby the normal positions of both the yoke lever 80 and trigger lever 90 are stabilized in a momentary holding interlock.

Each control module is operatively completed by addition of a handle element 23 equipped with a depending metallic shank member 24 to which is attached a conical cam member 25"m'ade of nylon or the like, there being a bore 24A, FIG. 17A, in'said shank portion into which the control rod 75 fits freely. A compression spring 98 on rod 75 urges the conical cam 25 and its handle to an upward normal position wherein the cam clears the trigger lever roller 96, as in FIG. 13.

The-respective sets of control modules at opposite ends of the game table are carried upon corresponding module rocker shafts 87A or 878 between intervening spacer sleeves 99 FIG. 18 and in operative juxtaposition between a pair of the oppositely rotating countershafts 76, 77, FIG. 20 such that the appertaining drive rollers 72 will engage one or the other of said shafts responsive to opposite rocking movements of the module, it being evident from FIG. 15 that when the handle 23 is moved toward the left or right, the entire module unit, carried upon its bushing 85, will turn on the rocker shaft 87A to effect such engagements with the countershafts.

When the handle 23 is pushed downwardly, however, a different action results: First, the conical cam 25, FIG. 14, engages the trigger lever roller 96, causing this lever to be thrown outwardly to the dotted line position so that the yoke lever 80 is freed from the normal interlock between the notch 88 and crosswise roller 89; secondly, the compression spring 98 is tensioned to apply a downwardly-driving effort on the bight portion of the yoke lever 80 so that the latter snaps down to the dotted-line position seen in FIG. 14, in consequence of which the pin 102 on the toggle lever, FIG. 14, is also driven downwardly to turn the toggle lever 100 abruptly to the dotted-line position, thus causing the other toggle pin 103 to exert a sharp pull on the manikin'slide cable 66 and produce the kicking" action of the figure in the manner previously described.

In the foregoing toggle action, because both ends of the traction spring 94 are moving in a direction generally toward the rocking axis through rocker shaft 87A and the notch roller 89, FIG. 14, while this spring is being additionally'tensioned, and because the notch 88 does not instantlydisengage roller 89, but does so only after a momentary delay during which the trip lever 90 is pivoted a certain minimum amount by the conical cam, sufficient tension is built up in the compression spring so that when the interlock notch does disengage the roller to cause the yoke lever 70 to plunge suddenly downwardly and exert a sharp pull on the slide cable with a resultant rocking of the corresponding idler pulley 67 to which such cable is attached, this pull on the cable will be equally abrupt, and will in effect elongate the manikin shuttle cord by pulling out the slide 59 to pivot the manikin rapidly in energetic ballkicking" action.

When the downward pressure on the handle 23 is released by the player, the compression spring 98 restores it and the conical cam to normally raised position, and the traction spring 94 likewise restores the tripping, toggle and yoke levers 90, 100 and 80, to normal positions, thus relaxing the pull on the slide cable 66 and permitting the shuttle slide to return to normal under the efiort of the shuttle springs 62.

The rockable idler pulley wheels 67, as seen in FIG. 16, are carried at one end of a rocker arm 110 having affixed centrally thereon an elongated bearing and spacing sleeve 111 adapted to fit upon the corresponding idler rocker shaft 79, as aforesaid. Additional spacer sleeves 111A are applied to the shaft as necessary. At the lower end of the arm opposite marginal portions are struck up to provide aligned fiangesll2 in which are punched'square holes 113 in aligned pairs adapted to receive the partially threaded shank portion 114A of a cable hook 1 14. A part 1 14B of the said shank portion is made square to key into the square holes in order to maintain the hook in a horizontal plane and a nonslip nut 115 is threaded onto the shank to dispose the hook in adjusted positions for proper tensioning of the corresponding manikin slide cable 66, one end 66A of which will be engaged with said hook, while the opposite end 668 thereof will be anchored on the pin 102 of the corresponding toggle lever located at the opposite end of the chassis.

Thus, a pull on the cable 66 will rock the idler arm 110 and its pulley wheel 67 and effectively elongate the driving or travelling cord of the manikin shuttle and pullout the slide 59 thereof, it being evident from FIG. 16 that the effective length of the lever arm which exerts such a pull on the slide cable, may be changed by moving the hook from one to another pair of the square hook holes aforesaid, this being a means for adjusting the sensitivity and throw of the manikin-pivoting slide and cam means to determine the ball-striking force.

The rocker shafts 87A and 873 for both sets of control modules are included as components of corresponding control subassemblies 118A, 1188 forming separable parts of the main chassis structure seen in FIGS. 18 to 21 and comprising a main chassis section 119 defined by a pair of long side channel bars 120 joined by the smaller lateral channel plates 121 previously mentioned as supports for the playfield tracks 40, there being in addition a larger central cross channel 122 from which the main driving motor 130 is suspended.

Each of the two endwise control subassemblics of the chassis is supported by a pair of bearing and tie plates 124 having the peculiar configuration seen in FIG. 20 and including narrow, oppositely-projecting and vertically offset channel-engaging arms 125A, 1258 extending from a laterally enlarged median area 124A in which are seated two ball bearings 126, 127 respectively journaling the upper and lower shuttle-driving countershafts 76 and :77 in the manner seen in FIG. 18, each pair of said tie plates being rigidly joined in spaced relation by a crosschannel 128, bolted as at 129A to one of the horizontal junction arms 125A of each plate of the pair.

When the pairs of tie plates 124 are thus joined and spatially juxtaposed by the cross channels 128, the resulting control subassemblies. are easily handled for attachment to, or detachment from the main chassis section, the remaining horizontal junction arms 1258 being then insertable into corresponding ends of the long side channels 120 for attachment thereto by bolts 1298, FIG. 19.

In each said control subassembly, each pair of tie plates also supports one of the module rocker shafts 87A and its complement of manikin controlling modules thereon, as well as one of the idler pulley shafts 79 and its complement of rocking idler pulleys 67, this arrangement being shown in FIG. 18 as viewed from the bottom of the chassis structure. The individual control modules are spaced exactly along the length of the rocker shaft 87A by spacer sleeves 99, while the idler pulley units are similarly spaced for cooperation each with one of the corresponding modules (at the opposite end of the chassis) by the sleeve means 1 11 previously described as being attached thereto and affording both a bearing and a spacing element.

The manufacture of the game apparatus is greatly facilitated by the provision of the three major subassembly structures described,'particularly in view of the fact that each of the ganged control modules and its cooperative pulley system must be exactly aligned with the corresponding trackway structure and manikin shuttle, and the disclosed arrangement effectuates the requisite alignments for all of the individual components automatically upon joinder of the subassemblies, thus eliminating costly positioning adjustments entailed when components are installed and connected individually.

After the completed chassis structure is installed in its cabinet, it is merely necessary to set the two control console panels 22 in place thereon, each panel having a set of openings with shield means therein fitting freely over the individual control handles 23 in accordance with the construction depicted in FIG. 17 showing a portion of the underside of oneof the panels 22 to which is attached aplate 135 having a setof laterally elongated handle holes 136 therein and registering with corresponding holes 22Ain the console panel, FIG. 17A.

Alongside each elongated hole in the plate is asmall angle bracket 137 and a spring-mounting pin 134 upon which is anchored a hairpin type of centering spring 139 having opposite crossover legs 140 which pass through a long slot 137A in the angle bracket before crossing and then pass around the neck portion 23N of the handle member which will be in alignment therewith when the console panel is set home.

As seen in FIG. 17A, each handle position is provided witha plastic shield member 142 having an integral tubular shank 143 loosely depending through each set of registered holes in the panel and plate members, the shielding flange portion 142 being wide enough to cover the elongated holes in alloperating positions of the appertaining handle element 23 when pushed back and forth to advance the manikin (FIG. 1 also).

The lower end of the shield shank is provided with a rim or flange 144 serving as a seat for a large washer 145 and a large spring horseshoe retaining washer 146 by which the shield structure is captured in loosely shiftable assembly with the panel structure.

Prior to lowering the console panels 22 into position on the cabinet, the handles 23 and associated compression springs 75 will be in position upon their respective modules in the manner seen in FIG. 15, and the two crossed-over spring legs will bear against opposite sides of the neck portion 23N of the corresponding handle member in the manner depicted in FIGS. 17 and 17A, and thereby be yieldingly disposed in centcred position between the opposite ends of the elongated panel and plate holes,-whereby the friction drive wheels 72 of the corresponding module will likewise be maintained in a centered neutral or nondriving position in between the associated pair of motor-driven countershafts 76 and 77, as in FIG. 15. When the handle element is pushed in either direction in a horizontal sense, the shielding means moves with it in the elongated hole arrangement, and the necessary rocking motion of the module unit is effected to cause the drive wheel 72 to engage one of the other of said countershafts; and it will be evident from FIG. 17A that when said handle element is pushed downwardly in the manikin-pivoting operation it will glide in its engagement with the spring legs 140 while remaining subject to the centering effort thereof unless, of course, a pushing effort is simultaneously being applied.

Each control console also includes one of the Goalie actuating knobs 26, FIG. 1, the shaft portion 26A of which extends to the underside of the panel, as in FIG. 17, to engage a small channel lever 148 into one end of which projects a globular nylon roller 151 affixed to the end of a pin 152 staked into a U-shaped lever 150, the legs of which are set upon a pivot pin 153 seated in opposite flanges 154 of a small channel plate 155 affixed to the underside of the console panel. Mounted on brackets 155 attached to said channel plate is a horizontal Goalie slide bar 156 (FIG. 10 and 11 also) upon which is slideably carried one of the manikin shuttle or carriage blocks 50X from which the slide 59 and its springs have been omitted for replacement by the said slide bar.

A long pin 157 projects from the block 50X through an elongated slot 158 in a wall plate behind the Goalie cage to a point close to the front of said cage to dispose a Goalie figure 36 carried on the end thereof for shifting movement back and forth responsive to travel of the block 50X on the slide bar, this latter action being effected by a long drive link 159, one end of which is pivotally attached as at 150A to the end of the U-shaped lever, and the other end of which is attached as at 149 to the rearward side of the slide block 50X. A presser spring 160 is fixed in said block to'bear against the slide bar and maintain the block and Goalie manikin in any position to which it may be thus moved by turning the knob 26.

Suspended from a pivot pin 162 across the upper portion of the Goalie cage, is a pendant backstop 164, FIG. 11 particularly, disposed to be engaged by a fast-moving ball to absorb energy therefrom so that it will drop into the scoring exit 33.

The single electric motor 130, previously referred to in view of FIG. 18, drives both sets of countershafts, the uppermost countershaft in each set being equipped with a pulley wheel 131A or 1318 driven by belt means 132 from said motor, the

'lowermost shaft member in each said set being reversely driven from the uppermost shaft through a pair of interdriving gears 133, 134, respectively affixed thereto, FIGS. 18, and 21.

It is an important feature of the power drive means for travelling the manikin shuttles that the retreat thereof back toward the corresponding goal is more rapid than the advance toward the opposing goal, this being achieved by making the upper countershaft 76 in each modular set of larger diameter than the lower countershaft 77, the former, for example, having a diameter of three-fourths inch while the latter will have a diameter of five-eighths inch. The competitive playing action and interest is thus enhanced since it enables the very rapid return of any player manikin back to a defensive position in the region of its goal wicket or in a direction back to a kicking or deflecting position to intercept a ball moving generally, but not necessarily in a straight line, in such direction.

Means for returning scoring balls to play includes the ball runways 34, FIG. 19, which lead respective from one of the exit holes 33 beneath the goalie cages and converge at the base of a vertical ball elevating tube 37 containing a predetermined number of stacked balls to be returned onto the playfield one at a time in a'nTtnri er known in the art, responsive to each return of a scoring ball as the result of continual oscillation of an elevating means of known type consisting of a ball-lifting paddle 38 at the bottom of the tube and lifting movement thereby of the returning balls upwardly into the tube in such manner that only the uppermost ball is expelled onto the field concurrently with the entry of the returned ball at the bottom of the stack. The elevating paddle means is oscillated through the agency of a lever system 39 driven by a small motor 117 affixed to the side of the chassis, FIG. 18, 19, said motor being connected in a control circuit (indicated by block representation only in FIG. 22), along with the main motor 130, to run continually during'each round of play.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION In order to simplify the illustration and description, the schematic operational diagram of FIG. 22 depicts only one control module and its pulley and drive mechanism, since these subassemblies are identical in the competitive dualplayer units arranged at opposite ends of the game table. In the coin-controlled form of the apparatus, suitable coin-control circuit means may be utilized to condition the game for a round of play, circuit means for this purpose being available in a variety of forms well known in the art and not being detailed herein since it forms no part of the invention, and is simply indicated by block diagram.

Assuming the main driving motor 130 and the small ballelevating or return motor means 117 have been energized, as aforesaid, they will continue to run for the duration of the permitted cycle of play, and the countershafts 76 and 77 will continue to be rotated in opposite directions through the pulleybelt means 131, 132 and interdriving gears 133, 134.

By pushing the module handle 23 forward from its normal neutral position (toward the right) the drive wheel 72 will engage the lower countershaft 77 and cause rotation of the pulley 71 in a direction to send the carriage or shuttle 50 toward the opponent's goal at the right. Should the handle 23 be pushed in the opposite direction, toward the left, the drive wheel would rock upwardly to engage the countershaft 76 and send the carriage shuttle toward the left, and this travel would be faster than the movement toward the opponents goal because the countershaft 76 is of larger diameter than the shaft 77.

If the handle 23 is pushed downwardly in its linear mode of action, without regard to its other rocking mode of operation, whether in neutral position, forwardly, or rearwardly thereof, the trigger cone 25 will engage roller 96 and trip out the trigger lever 90, permitting the yoke to descend suddenly to rock the toggle lever 100, thereby effecting an abrupt pull on the control cable 66, which will rock the idler pulley 67 to the dotted-line position, thereby effectively lengthening the driving cable 65, the manikin-actuating slide 59 moving outwardly to the dotted-line position to compensate for this extension of the travelling cable, and in doing so actuating the described cam means (FIGS. 3 to 6) to pivot the manikin abruptly in ball-kicking action. Spring means 62 restores the slide and takes in the travelling cable when the module handle 23 is permitted to rise again to its normal'positiori under the effort of its spring 98. v

Should the kicking action (or a mere pushing action) of the playing figure result .in sending the ball into the opponent's goal to enter the ball exit 33, the scoring ball would gravitate via the return runway means into the bottom of the ball return elevating means 34 and be moved up into the stack of balls therein whereby to cause the topmost ball to be ejected onto the playtield at 138; and the scoring ball in traversing the return runway means would also actuate a score control switch means 35 to register a score by a known type of score circuit means 140, for example, to illuminate a score tally lamp 18 on one of the score panels 19 (FIG. 1) on the game table.

In accordance with a modified form of control module shown in H6. 23, the identical manikin shuttle and cam-slide structure 50M and 59M is employed. and driven back and forth by the same pulley cord means 65M trained over pulleys 67M and 71M for oppositely-directed travel responsive to rocking of the control handle 23M forming part of a simplified module structure in which the entire trip-out lever mechanism is omitted, and only the pulley rocker lever means 70M is employed and caused to rock on the shaft 79M by manipulation of the handle accordingly, as described for the device of FIG. 22, the handle in the modified construction likewise being linearly shiftable up and down and being equipped with an actuating member, such as the conical-cam element 25M which, when moved downwardly, engages and actuates a switchoperating member 169 to effect closure of switch contacts 170.

The modified idler pulley 67M is'mounted on a clevis arm 172 having elongated slot 173 to shift upon a supporting pin 174, the end of such arm being adjustably' connected through an adjustable screw coupling means 175 to the end of a solenoid plunger 176, said coupling being adjustedto apply suitable tension to the driving cable 65M, one end of which is attached to the shuttle body, and the other end of which is attached to the cam slide 59M thereon. I

When the control handle 23M is pressed down to actuate the switch means 170, as aforesaid, a circuit' is closed via conductors 177 and power supply 178 toenergize the solenoid winding 179 thereby attracting the solenoid plunger inwardly, toward the right and exerting a pull on the driving cable which in effect lengthens it and withdraws the cam slide. 59M to effect the pivotal kicking action of the manikin in the manner described for the arrangement of F KS. 22;

In the foregoing modified form of the modular control means, it will be observed that, as in the form first described, the kicking action of the manikin figure is achieved as the result of an efiective lengthening" of the drive cable independently of any action, or lack of action, in the motor drive means and pulley system, and therefore such actuation of the manikin in that embodiment could also be achieved while the shuttle is in motion or at rest wholly independently of any addriven shaft means supplying motive power for such movement, carriage means supporting said figure for said guided travel and for another motion relative to the carriage means,

together with track means defining said course and supporting said carriage means for travel as aforesaid; improvements including: the combination with a carriage and a playing figure carried thereby of carriage-travelling means comprising reversely-travelling cable means and pulley means for moving the carriage over said course; control means including a manuallyoperable member having a first modeof reverse operations and driving means actuated thereby to connect driving power of corresponding directional character from said shaft means to said pulley and cable means for effecting corresponding reverse travel of the carriage; a movable element carried with the carriage and means yieldingly urging the said element to a normal position relative to the carriage; means attaching one part of said cable means to said movable element, and means attaching another part of said cable means to the carriage; said control means having a second mode of operation under control of said manually-operable member and independent of said first mode of operation for moving a part of said pulley means from a normal positionto elongate the path of travel of said cable means, said movable element of the'carriage being movable from said normal position to'permit such effective elongation of the cable means to travel said elongated path and move the carriage, notwithstanding, responsive to'actuations of said control means in said first mode; and means drivingly interconnecting said movable element and said playing figure on the carriage for producing a motion of the latter in situ on the carriage responsive to movements of said movable element. v

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said track means consists in a set of elongated track members mounted in side- .by-side parallelism at least in pairs, each track member having a vertical web surmounted by a crosswise top web defining a part of the playfield surface, track formations running along the opposite sides of the vertical web beneath the top web for supporting engagement with one of said carriage means for travel back and forth between a said pair of track members, and mounting means on said vertical web spaced below said track formations for engagement with a support for said set of track members.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is further provided a yieldable stop gate means at the opposite ends of said set of track members and having the form of an elongated blockingmember extending in a direction laterally across the ends of the track members and mounted for movement from a normal blocking position in which it obstructs the departure of the carriage means from said track formations, to a nonblocking position permitting such departure; and spring means acting on said blocking member yieldingly maintaining the same in said normal blocking position.

4. The construction of claim 2 wherein said carriage comprises a body having elongated grooves on opposite sides thereof, one such groove on each side being in parallel alignment with another each of which glidingly receives one of two said track formations on confronting sides of an appertaining pair of said track members; another pair of said grooves on the carriage body slidably receiving said movable element.

5. Apparatus according to claim '4 further characterized in that each said carriage body includes formations defining a plate seat and said playing figure is provided with a cam plate receivable in saidseat and disposed normally to the axis of movement of the playing figure and. in approximate parallelism with the plane ofmovement of said movable element; interacting means on the movable element and plate radially offset from said axis and effecting rotative motion of the plate and playing figure responsive to reciprocatory motion of said movable element. g

6. Apparatus according to claim -1 wherein said first mode of operation is angular in different directions from a neutral position, and said second mode of operation is linear with respect to said neutral position.

7.' Apparatus according to claim 6 whereinsaid shaft means comprises a pair of countershafts spaced apart in parallelism and motor driven in reverse directions; and said cable means and pulley means therefore comprise a jointly rotatable friction wheel and pulley wheel movable by said control means in the first mode of operation thereof from a neutral position in between said countershafts to engage said friction wheel drivingly with one or the other of said countershafts and travel said cable means accordingly in one or the other direction.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further characterized in that said pulley means includes two pulley members over which said cable means is trained in connection with the carriage means as aforesaid, and one of said pulley members is the same as that which is jointly movable with said friction wheel, said last-mentioned pulley member and friction wheel being disposed in juxtaposition with both said countershafts for motion as a unit in opposite directions from a neutral nondriving position to driving positions in which engagement of the friction wheel with one or the other of the countershafts is effected responsive to reverse operation of said control means in the angular mode thereof; the second pulley member being movable between normal and off-normal positions to produce effective elongation of the cable means as aforesaid; and means providing an actuating connection between said control means and said second pulley member for transmitting control movement from the control means in its said linear mode to move the second pulley member to its off-normal position.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pulley means-includes first and second pulley members over which said cable means is trained in moving the carriage means as aforesaid; a first one of said pulley members having a driving wheel jointly rotatable therewithand means mounting the same and said first pulley member for movement in opposite directions from a neutral position to reverse driving positions with said wheel in engagement with one of two reversely rotating shaft members which are components of said shaft'means; means mounting said second pulley member, for movement from a normal to an off-normal position to produce effective elongation of the cable means as aforesaid in one of said positions; means operable to move the second pulley member to said off-normal position; means actuated under' control of said control means in the second mode thereof to transmit an openingeffort to said means for moving the second pulley member as aforesaid'to produce the said effective elongation of the cable means.

l0. ln amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for change-direction travel over a course relative to a playfield; a playing compdnent mounted for movement on the carriage; an actuating member movable on the carriage and means connecting the same with the playing component to move the latter responsive to movement of the actuating member; a pulley belt connecting with the carriage to travel the same over said course; means for travelling the pulley belt to travel the carriage; and means for imparting another motion to the pulley belt which is efiective independently of the travelling motion thereof for the purpose of moving the actuating member and thereby moving the playing component on the carriage without regard to the motion or direction of travel of the carriage. t

ll. ln amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for travel relative to a playfield; a pulley system for the carriage including a pulley belt having opposite end portions, means attaching one said end portion to the carriage; an operating member shiftable between normal and off-normal positions on the carriage; means yieldingly urging said operating 'member to said normal position; means connecting the other end portion of the pulley belt to said operating member; pulley means at spacedpositions around which the pulley belt is trained to travel the carriage; the pulley means at a particular one of said positions being 'shiftable between normal and off-normal positions to lengthen, in effect, the distance between the ends of the pulley belt in the off-normal position; means urging the shiftable pulley means to said normal position; a game component movably mounted on the carriag e and means providing driving interconnection of said component with said operating member; control means operable to shift the shiftable pulley means between said normal and off-normal positions; and means operable to connect driving power to said pulley systemfor travelling said belt and 'carriage. r

12. Apparatus according td claim 11 wherein the operating member is linearly shiftable in the general direction of travel of the cable means, and said urging means is a spring pulling said operating member into the said normal position thereof.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said driving interconnection means comprises a pivoted member on the carriage and means providing a pin and slot eccentric drive between said member and game component such that linear shift of the operating member imparts a rotative motion to the game component which is independent of the motion of the carriage.

'14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said spaced pulley means includes a pulley member rockable in a direction tending to elongate the distance between itself and a second pulley member spaced therefrom and therefore tending to elongate the path over which said cable means must travel, whereby the requisite tractive effort is applied to shift the operating member from said normal position in a particular one of the directions of rocking motion of said rockable pulley member, and is relaxed by rocking of the pulley member in the direction opposite to said particular direction topermit return of the movable element to the normal position, said cable means being free to travel over the pulley members in all posi tions of the rockable pulley member.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said control means includes a manually-movable control device having a control connection with said rockable pulley member effective responsive to movement of said device to rock the rockable pulley member to exert and relax the said tractive effort selectively on said operating member.

16 The combination of claim 15 wherein said driving power is derived from motive means including a pair of parallel spaced-apart countershafts driven reversely by motor means, and said control device comprises a drive wheel coacting with said second pulley member movable selectively by manual movement of the control device to dispose the wheel in dn'ving engagement with one or the other of said counter shafts and 'said second pulley member is drivingly interconnected with said cable means, whereby the latter and therefore the carriage may be reversely travelled relative to said course.

17. The combination-of claim 11 wherein said carriage is supported for travel between spaced track members defining a trackway and having opposite terminal portions, there being a movable gate element at each terminal portion spring-urged into a normal position in which it blocks escape movement of the carriage from the end of the trackway, said gate element being movable from said normal position to a release position in which it does not block escape of the carriage.

18. In amusement game apparatus, the combination with a pair of countershafts driven in opposite directions and a pulley cable adapted to be reversely pulled over a pair of spaced pulley wheels for moving a carriage back and forth, of control means comprising: a rockable control member including a handle engageable for rocking the same, said handle being movable in another mode independently of the rocking of said control member, said member being mounted in juxtaposition to said countershafts and including a first pulley wheel and a drive wheel operable to rotate the pulley wheel and positioned for driving engagement with one or the other of said countershafts responsive to rocking of the control member into opposite driving positions; a second pulley wheel and means mounting the same to shift to and from normal and off-normal positions at a distance from the first pulley wheel, a cable trained over said pulley wheels; guide means in between said pulley wheels in alignment with said cable; a carriageguidedly supported by said guide means, one end portion of the cable being connected to the carriage and another end portion of the cable being connected to a slide on the carriage reciprocable in the direction of travel of the cable and carriage; spring means urging the slide to a normal position inwardly of the carriage; lever means on said control member moved by said independent movement of the handle; and means providing an operating interconnecting between said last-mentioned lever means and the shiftable mounting means for the second pulley wheel for controlling shifting movement of the latter to and from said normal and off-normal positions for the purpose of exerting and relaxing force on said cable to effect movement of said slide; and a movable member operatively associated with said carriage and moved independently upon reciprocatory movement of the slide.

19. In apparatus of the class described, in combination: a pulley system including a cable trained to travel a course and cooperative drive means for travelling the cable; a carriage adapted to be moved by the cable along said course; a motion device movable with the carriage; ashiftable member on the carriage; means drivingly interconnecting the motion device and shiftable member; means yieldingly urging the shiftable member to a normal position relative to the carriage; means interconnecting said carriage with a first region of said cable; means interconnecting the shiftable member with said cable at a second region spaced lengthwise of the cable from said first region thereon such that the cable has a normally effective length when said shiftable member is in said normal position, and the cable has a longer effective length when the shiftable UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3, 551;, 51 7 January 12, 1971 Leonard I, Vedeen et al It is certified that error appears in the abovenumbered Letters Patent requiring correction and that said Letters Patent should read as corrected below:

Column 10, line 7).; (claim 8), for "operation" read --operations--; column 11, line 23 (claim 9), for "opening" read --operating--; and column 12, line 62 (claim 18), for "interconnecting" read ..-interconnection--,

Signed and sealed this 6th day oi 197 1 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD NLFLETCHEILJR. WILLIAM E SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. In amusement apparatus of the type having a playing figure guided for travel over a predetermined course, motor driven shaft means supplying motive power for such movement, carriage means supporting said figure for said guided travel and for another motion relative to the carriage means, together with track means defining said course and supporting said carriage means for travel as aforesaid; improvements including: the combination with a carriage and a playing figure carried thereby of carriagetravelling means comprising reversely-travelling cable means and pulley means for moving the carriage over said course; control means including a manually-operable member having a first mode of reverse operations and driving means actuated thereby to connect driving power of corresponding directional character from said shaft means to said pulley and cable means for effecting corresponding reverse travel of the carriage; a movable element carried with the carriage and means yieldingly urging the said element to a normal position relative to the carriage; means attaching one part of said cable means to said movable element, and means attaching another part of said cable means to the carriage; said control means having a second mode of operation under control of said manually-operable member and independent of said first mode of operation for moving a part of said pulley means from a normal position to elongate the path of travel of said cable means, said movable element of the carriage being movable from said normal position to permit such effective elongation of the cable means to travel said elongated path and move the carriage, notwithstanding, responsive to actuations of said control means in said first mode; and means drivingly interconnecting said movable element and said playing figure on the carriage for producing a motion of the latter in situ on the carriage responsive to movements of said movable element.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said track means consists in a set of elongated track members mounted in side-by-side parallelism at least in pairs, each track member having a vertical web surmounted by a crosswise top web defining a part of the playfield surface, track formations running along the opposite sides of the vertical web beneath the top web for supporting engagement with one of said carriage means for travel back and forth between a said pair of track members, and mounting means on said vertical web spaced below said track formations for engagement with a support for said set of track members.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is further provided a yieldable stop gate means at the opposite ends of said set of track members and having the form of an elongated blocking member extending in a direction laterally across the ends of the track members and mounted for movement from a normal blocking position in which it obstructs the departure of the carriage means from said track formations, to a nonblocking position permitting such departure; and spring means acting on said blocking member yieldingly maintaining the same in said normal blocking position.
 4. The construction of claim 2 wherein said carriage comprises a body having elongated grooves on opposite sides thereof, one such groove on each side being in parallel alignment with another each of which glidingly receives one of two said track formations on confronting sides of an appertaining pair of said track members; another pair of said grooves on the carriage body slidably receiving said movable element.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further characterized in that each said carriage body includes formations defining a plate seat and said playing figure is provided with a cam plate receivable in said seat and disposed normally to the axis of movement of the playing figure and in approximate parallelism with the plane of movement of said movable element; interacting means on the movable element and plate radially offset from said axis and effecting rotative motion of the plate and playing figure responsive to reciprocatory motion of said movable element.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first mode of operation is angular in different directions from a neutral position, and said second mode of operation is linear with respect to said neutral position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said shaft means comprises a pair of countershafts spaced apart in parallelism and motor driven in reverse directions; and said cable means and pulley means therefore comprise a jointly rotatable friction wheel and pulley wheel movable by said control means in the first mode of operation thereof from a neutral position in between said countershafts to engage said friction wheel drivingly with one or the other of said countershafts and travel said cable means accordingly in one or the other direction.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further characterized in that said pulley means includes two pulley members over which said cable means is trained in connection with the carriage means as aforesaid, and one of said pulley members is the same as that which is jointly movable with said friction wheel, said last-mentioned pulley member and friction wheel being disposed in juxtaposition with both said countershafts for motion as a unit in opposite directions from a neutral nondriving position to driving positions in which engagement of the friction wheel with one or the other of the countershafts is effected responsive to reverse operation of said control means in the angular mode thereof; the second pulley member being movable between normal and off-normal positions to produce effective elongation of the cable means as aforesaid; and means providing an actuating connection between said control means and said second pulley member for transmitting control movement from the control means in its said linear mode to move the second pulley member to its off-normal position.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pulley means includes first and second pulley members over which said cable means is trained in moving the carriage means as aforesaid; a first one of said pulley members Having a driving wheel jointly rotatable therewith and means mounting the same and said first pulley member for movement in opposite directions from a neutral position to reverse driving positions with said wheel in engagement with one of two reversely rotating shaft members which are components of said shaft means; means mounting said second pulley member for movement from a normal to an off-normal position to produce effective elongation of the cable means as aforesaid in one of said positions; means operable to move the second pulley member to said off-normal position; means actuated under control of said control means in the second mode thereof to transmit an opening effort to said means for moving the second pulley member as aforesaid to produce the said effective elongation of the cable means.
 10. In amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for change-direction travel over a course relative to a playfield; a playing component mounted for movement on the carriage; an actuating member movable on the carriage and means connecting the same with the playing component to move the latter responsive to movement of the actuating member; a pulley belt connecting with the carriage to travel the same over said course; means for travelling the pulley belt to travel the carriage; and means for imparting another motion to the pulley belt which is effective independently of the travelling motion thereof for the purpose of moving the actuating member and thereby moving the playing component on the carriage without regard to the motion or direction of travel of the carriage.
 11. In amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for travel relative to a playfield; a pulley system for the carriage including a pulley belt having opposite end portions, means attaching one said end portion to the carriage; an operating member shiftable between normal and off-normal positions on the carriage; means yieldingly urging said operating member to said normal position; means connecting the other end portion of the pulley belt to said operating member; pulley means at spaced positions around which the pulley belt is trained to travel the carriage; the pulley means at a particular one of said positions being shiftable between normal and off-normal positions to lengthen, in effect, the distance between the ends of the pulley belt in the off-normal position; means urging the shiftable pulley means to said normal position; a game component movably mounted on the carriage and means providing driving interconnection of said component with said operating member; control means operable to shift the shiftable pulley means between said normal and off-normal positions; and means operable to connect driving power to said pulley system for travelling said belt and carriage.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the operating member is linearly shiftable in the general direction of travel of the cable means, and said urging means is a spring pulling said operating member into the said normal position thereof.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said driving interconnection means comprises a pivoted member on the carriage and means providing a pin and slot eccentric drive between said member and game component such that linear shift of the operating member imparts a rotative motion to the game component which is independent of the motion of the carriage.
 14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said spaced pulley means includes a pulley member rockable in a direction tending to elongate the distance between itself and a second pulley member spaced therefrom and therefore tending to elongate the path over which said cable means must travel, whereby the requisite tractive effort is applied to shift the operating member from said normal position in a particular one of the directions of rocking motion of said rockable pulley member, and is relaxed by rocking of the pulley member in the direction opposite to said particular direction to permit return of the movable element to the normal position, said cable means being free to travel over the pulley members in all positions of the rockable pulley member.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said control means includes a manually-movable control device having a control connection with said rockable pulley member effective responsive to movement of said device to rock the rockable pulley member to exert and relax the said tractive effort selectively on said operating member.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said driving power is derived from motive means including a pair of parallel spaced-apart countershafts driven reversely by motor means, and said control device comprises a drive wheel coacting with said second pulley member movable selectively by manual movement of the control device to dispose the wheel in driving engagement with one or the other of said counter shafts and said second pulley member is drivingly interconnected with said cable means, whereby the latter and therefore the carriage may be reversely travelled relative to said course.
 17. The combination of claim 11 wherein said carriage is supported for travel between spaced track members defining a trackway and having opposite terminal portions, there being a movable gate element at each terminal portion spring-urged into a normal position in which it blocks escape movement of the carriage from the end of the trackway, said gate element being movable from said normal position to a release position in which it does not block escape of the carriage.
 18. In amusement game apparatus, the combination with a pair of countershafts driven in opposite directions and a pulley cable adapted to be reversely pulled over a pair of spaced pulley wheels for moving a carriage back and forth, of control means comprising: a rockable control member including a handle engageable for rocking the same, said handle being movable in another mode independently of the rocking of said control member, said member being mounted in juxtaposition to said countershafts and including a first pulley wheel and a drive wheel operable to rotate the pulley wheel and positioned for driving engagement with one or the other of said countershafts responsive to rocking of the control member into opposite driving positions; a second pulley wheel and means mounting the same to shift to and from normal and off-normal positions at a distance from the first pulley wheel, a cable trained over said pulley wheels; guide means in between said pulley wheels in alignment with said cable; a carriage guidedly supported by said guide means, one end portion of the cable being connected to the carriage and another end portion of the cable being connected to a slide on the carriage reciprocable in the direction of travel of the cable and carriage; spring means urging the slide to a normal position inwardly of the carriage; lever means on said control member moved by said independent movement of the handle; and means providing an operating interconnecting between said last-mentioned lever means and the shiftable mounting means for the second pulley wheel for controlling shifting movement of the latter to and from said normal and off-normal positions for the purpose of exerting and relaxing force on said cable to effect movement of said slide; and a movable member operatively associated with said carriage and moved independently upon reciprocatory movement of the slide.
 19. In apparatus of the class described, in combination: a pulley system including a cable trained to travel a course and cooperative drive means for travelling the cable; a carriage adapted to be moved by the cable along said course; a motion device movable with the carriage; a shiftable member on the carriage; means drivingly interconnecting the motion device and shiftable member; means yieldingly urging the shiftable member to a normal position relative to the carriage; means interconnecting said carriage with a first region of said cable; means interconnecting the shiftable membeR with said cable at a second region spaced lengthwise of the cable from said first region thereon such that the cable has a normally effective length when said shiftable member is in said normal position, and the cable has a longer effective length when the shiftable member is shifted from said normal position; control means operatively associated with said pulley system for applying and relaxing an elongating effort to the cable whereby to effect movements of the shiftable member from and back to said normal position thereof as a function of relative lengthening and shortening of the effective length of the cable for the purpose of actuating said motion device. 